Ghaeles s



(No Model.)

3. S. SHIVLER.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

' Patented Mar. ,18, 1884.

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N0. 295,445. fiyl &

' jzvevafa w llniirnn STATES PATENT Orricn.

CHARLES S. SHIVLER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,445, dated March 18, 1884,

Application filed August 29, 1883. No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES S. SHIVLER, of Brooklyn, Kings county, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention aims to provide a permutation or combination switch for burglar-alarm or similar circuits,whereby the owner or other entrusted person, by first setting the switch to a certain known combination or position, may thus previously open or close the general 'circnit, as the case may be, and then open a door or window without sounding the alarm. thus producing the effect of a combinationlock in the circuit, which will enable any of the protected parts to be opened silently by a person knowing the combination, but not otherwise. WVhere the switch is applied to an open circuit, it will of course act to keep the circuit open when turned to that proper combination, whereas when applied to a closed circuit it will act to keep the circuit closed when turned to the combination for which it is set, as will be understood.

My invention may therefore be briefly stated to consist in one or more rotary or sliding commutators or switches movable overagraduat'ed range or circle, at one point of which the circuit is made or broken, with means for indicating to the entrusted person the position or graduation of said point, and means for changing the numbers, graduations, or indications representing said position, whereby the person having control of said switch may set it to any desired combination or number, and will be enabled to readily close or break the circuit by turning the switch to said number or graduation,whereas those not knowing this graduation or combination cannot do so without having to try an infinitenuxnber of changes, which will deter all such attempts. In practice, I prefer to use a series of two or more of such switches, the circuit being completed from one to the other, so that both switches must be set to the proper combination before the circuit will be closed or opened, thereby complicating the changes and making it more. difficult for the circuit to be opened by any one not in its secret.

Myinvention also consists in certain special details of construction in addition to the main features above described, as hereinafter fully set forth. I

Figure 1 of the annexed drawings is a front elevation of my novel permutation-switch or commutator adapted for an open circuit, and Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof on line 00 m. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the switch shown in Fig. 1, showing the circuit-connections in diagram. Fig. 4 is a similar rear view of a switch adapted for closed circuits, with the circuits shown in diagram.

Referring to the drawings, I will first describe the form of my invention which is adapted for open circuits, and which is shown in Figs.1,2, and 3. In these views, a indicates a strong metallic case like a lock-case, and made preferably of steel, cast-iron, or other suitable material not easily tampered wit-h or broken into. Thiscase is shown as in the form of a shallow box or tray closed on the front side and open on the back, and adapted to be covered by a removable plate, if desired. This case is securely set into the front of a hall-door, or door of entrance to the house, with its front exposed flush, or nearly so,with the door, and so secured thereto that it cannot be removed or displaced to gain access to its interior without ready detection. Upon the front of this case two circular recesses, b, are formed, in which are socketed two rotary disks, 0 c, which are fixed to central axes, dd, which pass through openings in the center of the said recesses, and are connected to rotary disks 6 e, of similar size, on the inside of the case. These inner disks, 6 e, are insulated from the case and from each other,which is best done by making said disks of some non-conducting substancefor instance, of vulcanized or gelatinized fiber while the outer disks, 0 c, and axes d are preferably made of strong metal. Upon the inner face of each of the insulating-disks e e is fixed a conducting-ring or washer, f, of copper or other conducting metal, and each of these washers has a contact tongue or spring, projecting from the periphery thereof, overhangingthe edge of the disk and bearing upon a raised annular seat or contact-strip, h, fixed on the inside of the case, around the base of the disks. A contact tongue or brush, 1', pro- Ioo jects from each of the conducting-strips h and bears upon the conducting-face f of the opposite disk, as fully shown in Fig. 3. Now, each of the annular contact-strips h It has a break therein at one point in its circumference, as shown at It It in 3, which break is a little wider than the overhanging contaettonguesf of the disks, so that hence, if the disks are turned so that their tongues will be over the gaps 7; k, they will be out of contact with the strips h h. Now, the circuit-wires Zm connect, one to the first contact-strip h and the other to the last contact-strip h, and in this circuit n indicates the battery, 0 the alarm-bell or other indicating and announcing device, and 1) represents one of the contact-springs on the doors, window, or other protected parts,which is of course shown in its open position. Vc will now assume that the disks are so turned that their contact-tongues bear on the strips h h at any point of their circumference, as shown in Fig. 3, and if while in this position the contact-spring p on the door or window is closed the circuit will then be immediately closed, being completed through the contact tongues and strips of the switch, as indicated in Fig. 3, and hence the alarm 0 will be sounded. It will be further noted that the circuit will al ways be completed through the switch in all positions in which the disks may be turned, except the one particular position in which the tongues g register with the gaps k 7t, and if the disks are brought in this position the circuit will be broken. Consequently, if the owner or other entrusted person desires to open any part protected by the circuit without sounding the alarmfor example, if he wishes to enter the house late at night, while the occupants are aslecp,without disturbing them he will simply turn the disks so that the tongues of both are over the gaps 7t 7t, so that now when he opens the door. and thereby closes the contact-spring 1), no alarm will be sounded, since the circuit has been previously broken through the switch, and hence he can enter noiseless] y, whereas any one not understanding the secret of the switch cannot do so.

It will be noted that where the switch is provided with two disks and their adjuncts both disks must be turned to the break before the circuit will be broken, for, if but one disk is so turned, it will be observed that a passage for the current will yet be afforded through the contacts of the other disk. Thus, referring to Fig. 3, it willbeseen that a double passage is afforded for the current, while both disks are turned into their conducting positionsthat is, the current may flow from the first ring it to the tongue 9 and face fof the first disk, thence by the upper brush i to the second ring h, and thence back to the battery; or it may also flow from the first ring it through the lower brush t directly to the face f of the second disk, and thence through its tongue 9 to the last ring h, and thence back to the battery, so that unless both disks are turned so that their tongues g g are over the breaks 7t it the circuit will not be left open when the contact p is closed. This duplex arrangement obviously complicates the switch and renders it very difficult for any one not knowing its socret to so turn the disks as to break the on cuit, and it also reduces the possibility of the switches being accidentally turned or left by the owner in a position in which the circuit will be broken. If desired, however, but one disk and set of contacts may be used, or, on the other hand, a much greater number of disks and contacts than those shown may be used, every additional disk adding to the complication and consequent safety of the device, as will be understood; but I prefer to use two or three disks only, as that is thought to be quite sufficient for safety. Now, in order to enable the person in the secret of the switch to know from the outside of the case in what position to turn the disks so that they will break the circuit, the range through which the disks are movable is graduated into a number of divisions, and these divisions numbered or otherwise designated, as shown in Fig. 1, in a manner similar to that employed in permutation or combination looks.

I prefer to mark the graduations on theface of the case around the periphery of the disks, as shown, and on the faces of the disks are bored a series of small screw-holes, r r, corresponding in number and positions with the said graduations, and into any one of these screw-holes a little changeable screwpin, s, may be screwed tightly, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which pin will serve as a handle or erank-pin by which the disk may be readily revolved, and also as an index-point to show to what figures the disks must be turned in order to open the switch, according to the combination to which it may be set. Now, each of the said graduations or divisions is equal in width to the breaks or gaps k. 7.1 in the contact'strips h h, as will be readily understood from the dotted lines in. Fig. 1, and hence, if the disks are so turned that the tongues g of both disks are over the gaps kit, the switch will be open, as before described, and the pins 8 on the face of the disk will be opposite some of the figures on the face of the switch. In the present case the pins will be opposite the figure 9 on thefirst disk and the figure a on the second disk; consequently 94: is the combination to which the switch will open; but if the disks are turned to any other set of figures the switch will not be opened; hence the disk can be turned to only one out of a larger number of positions in order to break the circuit, and unless a person knows this combination or number it is obviously useless to attempt to open the switch, and hence the safety and value of the device for electrical circuits are obvious.

Now, in order to change the number or combination to which the switch will open, it will be observed that it is only necessary to change the screw-pins to another set of holes oppo- IIO site another set of numbers while the disks are held in their open positions, and take note of the numbers, which will be the new combination. For instance, referring to Fig. 1, bring the pins to the number 945, as before described, which will bring the tongues y opposite the breaks in, and thus open the switch, as before described. Now, hold the disks in this position and unscrew the pins 8 and iiisert them in any other set of holes desired. For instance, insert one pin in the hole opposite 2 on thefirst disk and 8 on the second disk,when the new combination becomes 28, so that when the disks are again turned so that their pins register with those numbers the switch will be opened, but not in any other position. The combination may thus be changed as often as desired, thus adding to the safety of the device.

The modification of my invention for closed circuits is shown in Fig. 4, in which the construction is precisely the same as for the open circuit, except that the broken rings h h of the latter are dispensed with, and, instead of the contact-tongues g of the disks being arranged to break contact and open the circuit only at one point in their revolution, they make contact and close the circuit only at one point in their revolution by riding upon a contact-seat, k, which corresponds in position and function with the gaps 7c in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 4, tindicates the closed circuit, which energizes the usual relay, a, and keeps the 10- cal or alarm circuit '0 open, in the usual manner. In this closed circuit are disposed the closed contact-springs p, which are fixed on the doors or windows which are protected, and it will be seen that if this spring is opened the circuit t will be broken and the armature of its relay to will retract and close the local circuit 0, and thus sound the alarm 0, in the usual manner. A contact brush or spring, 1', bears upon the conductingface of each disk, and these tongues are insulated from each other and from the case of the switch, and correspond in purpose with the brushes 2' of the opencircuit switch, as will be readily understood. One pole of the battery of the closed circuit 2? is connected with the brush i of the first disk, and the other pole of the battery is connected with the seat of the second disk, while the opposite seat, k, and brush t" are connected together by a short wire or conductor, ,h'. It will therefore be seen that if the disks are so turned that the tongues g of both will seat upon the seats 7c the circuit it will be closed ina shunt around the contact-- spring 19 through the aforesaid parts of the switch, and consequently the door or other part protected by the contact-spring 9 may now be opened without breaking the circuit, for the reason that the circuit has been previously closed or shunted around the spring through the switch. If, however, the disks are set in any other position except in that named, the circuit will be open through the switch, and

hence the door cannot be opened without sounding an alarm, and this position can be found only by the person knowing the combination to which the switch may be set, which is done in precisely the same way as already described in referring to Figs. 1 and 2, as will be readily understood.

I do not, of course, confine myself to the precise constructionsillustrated.as manyniodifications may be adopted without departing from the principle of the invention shown.

Instead of the changeable pins 8, with holes r and the figures around the socket of the disks, any other'equivalent means for indication and permutation may be used, and, instead of making the switch with two or more distinct disks adjoining each other, the switch may be made with parallel sliding switchplates, or with two or more rotary rings movable concentrically within each other, which will form a compact substitute for the separated disks; but I prefer the disks.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be noted that the parts f 9 may be called the conduct ing body of the switches and the parts h or h the seats .ofthe switches, while the parts i or t" are brushes or conductors which, connect the body of one switch with the seat of the other switch.

As the closed-circuit switch shown in Fig. 4 is a mere modification of the principal form of my invention for open circuits, I consider that the same is covered in the principal claims as an equivalent, although the language of the said claims, for greater clearness, refers more particularly to the open-circuit form of switch.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. A secret permutation electrical switch, consisting of one or more commutators or switches movable through a graduated path or range and upon a seat whose continuity is interrupted at a certain point or graduation in said path, and at which point of interruption the circuitis opened, with means, substantially as set forth, for secretly indicating the position or graduation of said point of interruption, and means, substantially as set forth, for changing the indications or graduation representing said points, substantially as herein set forth.

2. An electrical permutation-switch, consisting of two or more contact-makers orswitches movable through a graduated range or path and upon a seat the continuity of which is interrupted at a certain point, and at which the circuit is opened, with a contact brush or conductor connecting each switch with the seat of the other switch and with circuit-connections extending to the said seats and brushes, substantially as set forth, whereby a duplex or multiplex passage is afforded for the cur rent through the several contacts of the said connected switches, and whereby the circuit will become opened or closed only when all the contacts are set to their position of break, substantially as herein set forth.

3. A secret permutation-switch for elec trical circuits, consisting of two rotary eontact-1nakers orswitches, each movable through or over a graduated circle and upon a seat which is interrupted at a certain point to interruptthc circuit, with brushes 01' conductors connecting each switch \vitlrthe seat of the other switch and circuit-connections with said seats and brushes, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. An electric switch substantially such as described, formed with the rotary contactinaker f g, in combination with the seat h and brush :7, with eircuit-coiniections extending to said seat and brush, substantially as herein set forth.

5. An electricalswitch substantially such as described, having; one or more plates or disks perforated with holes, in con'lbination with changeable crank-pins adapted to befixed in one of said holes, and with graduations cor responding with said holes, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

CHARLES S. SHIVLER.

XVitnesses:

JNo. E. GAVIN, Guns. M. HIGGINS. 

